Locking device for tongs or forceps.



H. MATTI. LOCKING DEVICE FOR TONGS OR FOR OEPS.

APPLICATION IILBD APR. 13, 101

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Wi y/ THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING fiBH/VD. C.

HERMANN MATTI, OF BEBNE, SWITZERLAND.

V LOCKING- DEVICE FOR TONGS OR FORCEZPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914;.

Application filed April 13, 1914. Serial No. 831,545.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMANN MATTI, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, and resident of 9 Sonnenbergstrasse, Berne, Switzerland, have invented a certain new and useful Locking Device for Tongs or Forceps, of which the following. is a specification.

This invention relates to a locking device for tongs or forceps, and it has for its object to provide such tongs or forceps with means for locking the limbs thereof in certain relative positions.

According to the invention one of the limbs of the tongs or forceps is provided with an elongated slot through which passes a sliding member fitted with a handle or finger piece, and carrying a spring which controls the action of a hook member, adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from a multiple hook or ratchet on the other limb. One limb and its corresponding jaw or cheek form separate parts, and are so connected together that the pressure exerted on the limb is transmitted to the aw by a slot and link mechanism providing an increased leverage. The other limb of the tongs may be integral with its jaw.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated an example of construction according to this invention.

Figure 1 shows a view of the tongs or forceps with a limb partly in section, and Fig. :2 shows a view at right angles to Fig. 1.

The clamping tongs or forceps comprise two limbs 64 and b, by means of which the jaws q" and g are opened and closed. The jaw g is integral with limb a, but the jaw r is pivoted to jaw Q at m, and has a tail piece n bearing a pin 19 which engages in a slot 0 in the limb Z), the said limb being pivoted at a to the limb a. The limb a has formed thereon or secured thereto a rack member (Z with which a hook f, hinged at e to the limb 7), is adapted to engage. The tail piece 9 of the hook projects into a recess at h in the limb 6, wherein is mounted a flat spring 2' of which the out-turned end rests against the extension g. The spring is supported on a handle or finger piece Z, which slides through a slot 70 in the limb b by means of this finger piece to bring the hook into or out of engagement with the rack member 03. The drawing Z the spring can be moved shows in full lines the engaging position wherein the limbs can only be moved toward one another, and are then held by the hook f engaging in the teeth of rack d. If the limbs are to be released, or opened outward again, the operator with one of the fingers of the hand holding the tongs or forceps, moves the finger piece Z and spring 2' into the position shown in chain dotted lines in Fig. 1, without any appreciable force or shock. The out-turned lower end of the spring z is thus pressed fiat against the tail piece 9, and turns the hook f into the chain dotted position, that is into the disengaged position. The limbs a and b can now be moved as desired, without the hook and ratchet engaging again until the member Z ismoved back again to the full line position. By means of the arrangement connecting the limbs to the jaws, the leverage due to the pressure exerted upon the limb Z) is made considerably greater in its transmission to the jaw 1".

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A locking gripping appliance, comprising two limbs and two jaws, means pivotally connecting said jaws, operative connections between the limbs and jaws, and means for locking the limbs relatively to one another, comprising two hook members adapted to engage together, one of said members being rigidly attached. to one limb, a pivotal connection between the other hook member and the second limb, a slot in said second limb, a member adapted to slide therein, and a spring attached to said sliding member, said spring being adapted when in one position to hold the pivoted hook member in a posi tion to engage with the fixed hook member, and in another position to hold said pivoted hook. member in a disengaged position.

2. In a locking gripping appliance, the combination of a pair of jaws and means pivotally connecting the same, a limb integralwith one jaw, a second limb and means operatively connecting it with the second jaw, a hook member with a plurality of hook teeth on one limb, a second hook member and means pivotally connecting it to the other limb, said second hook member having a tail piece, a sliding member on the limb bearing said second hook member, and a spring on said sliding member adapted when in one position to press said tail piece in a direction si to engage the second hook With the teeth of in the pr the first hook, and when moved into another 5 position, to turn said tail piece in such man- Eer as to disengage the second hook from the rst.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto HERMANN MATTI.

Vitnesses: V T

LEO J. FRANKELTHAL, T.. S. KANDYBA.

Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. p I r gned my name this 1st day of April, 1914,

esence of two subscribing Witnesses. V 

